Wide receiver tandems are quarterbacks’ best friends. Knowing he can always rely on one of the two, a sexy receiving tandem creates havoc for defensive coordinators and cover corners. It becomes a ‘pick your poison’ situation, with the offense having the upper hand in a balanced offense.

Several teams could develop strong receiving tandems throughout 2013. Georgia quickly comes to mind. With Tavarres King now graduated, Malcolm Mitchell steps into the spotlight as the offense’s game breaker, while Michael Bennett was leading the team in receptions before he was injured last year. Both are recovering from surgery and have several questions, but we know Aaron Murray will get them the football.

Another strong tandem that could develop is Missouri. Actually, Missouri has a trio that could put up big numbers, assuming the passing game gets a facelift. Marcus Lucas, L’Damian Washington and Dorial Green-Beckham return a combined 99 catches for 1,347 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Offenses that have at least one homerun hitting deep threat is a must-have to keep defenses from creepin’ up to the line of scrimmage, but these five teams have not only one big-time receiver but another strong compliment. Here are the SEC’s most dangerous receiving tandems:

1. Amari Cooper and Kenny Bell, Alabama

2012 combined stats: 76 catches for 1,431 yards and 14 touchdownsThe Skinny: The most explosive receiver in the conference is Amari Cooper. Cooper averaged 16.9 yards per reception, and when you add in Kenny Bell to accompany Cooper, it turns into a headache for any defense. Bell caught just 17 passes for 431 yards and three touchdowns before his season-ending injury, but he averaged a nasty 25.4 yards per catch. Alabama has a splendor of riches in the receiving corps, but the most explosive are Cooper and Bell, who combined to average 18.82 yards per catch. AJ McCarron is loving life.

2. Jordan Matthews and Chris Boyd, Vanderbilt

2012 combined stats: 144 catches for 2,097 yards and 13 touchdownsThe Skinny: Jordan Matthews led the SEC with 94 receptions last season, and you can make a case for Matthews as the best receiver in the SEC. After all, he did rack up a crazy 1,323 yards last season. Add Chris Boyd into the picture, and first-year starter Austyn Carta-Samuels has immediate talent around him for the Dores’ offense to not even skip a beat in 2013. If you’re looking for the most dependable tandem, Matthews and Boyd are your duo, and they could certainly top this list come December. Watch out for Matthews to become one of the highest wide receiver picks in the country in 2014’s draft.

3. Donte Moncrief and Vince Sanders, Ole Miss

2012 combined stats: 105 catches for 1,483 yards and 14 touchdownsThe Skinny: Just because Donte Moncrief is No. 3 on any list doesn’t mean he isn’t No. 1. In fact, you can make a case for Cooper, Matthews or Moncrief as the top receiver in the SEC. Vince Sanders and Ja’Mes Logan provide another strong option, but Bo Wallace has to limit turnovers. If he does, watch out for Moncrief’s numbers to explode, along with those of his partners in crime. Moncrief and Sanders are two to watch for the Rebels.

4. Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham, LSU

2012 combined stats: 99 catches for 1,286 yards and seven touchdownsThe Skinny: Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham could be the top receiving tandem in the SEC. But that’s just what they are right now: a potential No. 1. They aren’t as consistent as anyone in the LSU program would like for them to be.Landry is ready to explode in 2013, and Beckham was the most inconsistent in 2012. With an improved passing game, watch for Landry and Beckham to rise up draft charts. These two are ultra-talented, and with refined receiving skills and techniques, the Landry-Beckham duo could be the best in the SEC.

5. Mike Evans and Malcome Kennedy, Texas A&M

2012 combined stats: 108 catches for 1,390 yards and seven touchdownsThe Skinny: Mike Evans may not be a total game breaker, but The Human Radius will catch everything thrown in a 10’ range. Evans, next to Jordan Matthews, may have the SEC’s surest hands, and that must make Johnny Manziel so excited he can’t sleep at night. I look for Malcome Kennedy to take a major step forward this season, too, and Evans and Kennedy could move up this list…along with one of the 25 receivers the Aggies signed this past recruiting cycle.

Photo Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

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COMMENTS

Couple of things here I see we can disagree on.. In your previous article of top 10 wide receivers you even cited in this article LSU was the only one with two listed.. While I am by no means a tiger fan there is something to argue there.. Only ground I can see you standing on is they can’t get the touches to rank them higher because of qb play or spring training just didnt give you enough hype to stay on the band wagon.

Now to show some bias rebel love, ole miss has the best receiving corps in the SEC i.e. the country!

Interesting thoughts, and thanks for the comments. My reasoning here is that, as a duo, Landry and Beckham are quite solid, and they are two of the top 10 receivers returning. However, I want a game breaker as my primary receiver, and neither fit that bill yet. So, I’d take Amari Cooper, Donte Moncrief and Jordan Matthews over both Landry and Beckham at this point. So, that was my reasoning behind ranking Landry/Beckham #4, because I always want at least one WR who’s dynamite, along with another strong compliment. I get that with Alabama, Vanderbilt and Ole Miss, but I’m not there yet with LSU.

With all the weapons Alabama has on the outside (including a proven QB that can get them the ball along with potent rushing attack), they are the most deadly WR corps in the conference. Amari Cooper, Kenny Bell, DeAndrew White, Kevin Norwood, Christion Jones, Chris Black, Raheim Falkins, Robert Foster. Their production and talent speaks for itself.

Chris Conley, Malcolm Mitchell, Michael Bennett, Justin Scott Wesley, Rantavious Wooten, and Jonathon Rumph…Our top WR’s… Screw the duos. We have more than a duo that is dangerous. We have a DUO of deadly TE’s… and a duo or deadly RB’s. To go along with our deadly QB…